Month: June 2011

WASHINGTON: Militant groups under the banner of the Taliban in Pakistan as well as those operating in South and Central Asia pose the “greatest threat” to Islamabad’s nuclear infrastructure, a report by a US think tank has said.As Pakistan continues to build up its stockpile of nuclear weapons, the Washington-based Federation of American Scientists (FAS) said there is a broad appreciation of the danger of them falling into the hands of what the report called the ‘Pakistani Neo-Taliban’.”The greatest threat to Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure emanates from jihadists both inside Pakistan and South and Central Asia, generally,” said the FAS report entitled ‘Anatomizing Non-State Threats to Pakistan’s Nuclear Infrastructure: The Pakistani Neo-Taliban’ released yesterday.”While there is a broad appreciation of this danger, there are few substantive studies that identify and explore specific groups motivated and potentially capable of acquiring and employing Pakistani nuclear weapons and/or fissile materials,” the report said.According to The Wall Street Journal, the report is likely to make waves in the US and India, where public opinion towards Pakistan is increasingly hostile in the wake of the secret US raid on a Pakistani Army garrison town which killed Osama bin Laden in his hideout.Noting that there has long been concern over the security of Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure, the FAS report authored by Charles Blair, director of FAS’s Terrorism Analysis Project, said the killing of bin Laden raises questions about Pakistan’s sympathies to terrorist groups that target the US and its ongoing civil war against many of these same groups have only exacerbated these apprehensions.Blair still believes that it is unlikely Pakistan will lose control of its nuclear materials or weapons, though this report makes it clear that the security situation in Pakistan is only getting worse, said Charles Ferguson, the FAS president.According to the report, with the exception of tanks and airplanes, the Pakistani Neo-Taliban (PNT) has immediate access to virtually any conventional weapon a militant might seek.Military-grade weapons are reportedly available in major towns and cities in all of FATA and growing sections of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.It also said that Pakistan has considered a strong Taliban presence in Afghanistan as a way to counter India’s growing role in that country.”In short, a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is perceived by the ISI as one that brings stability to the region, is a useful counter against Pakistan’s bête noire India in contested regions of Kashmir, and simultaneously offsets mounting Indian influence in Kabul,” it said.

Three weeks after he was bundled out, yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Sunday returned to the capital to visit a woman who was critically injured in the crackdown on his agitation against corruption and accused police of a conspiracy to kill him. He also asserted that if any black money was found on him, it could be declared national property.In new allegations that are sure to spark much outrage, Ramdev said that the police not only resorted to brutality, but also tried to rape and molest women during the post-midnight crackdown on protesters June 4.This was the first visit by Ramdev, who heads the Haridwar-based Pantanjali Yog Peeth, to Delhi since the crackdown on his followers during his fast against corruption at the Ramlila Ground.

The visit also came amid the persisting standoff between the government and civil society activists over the Lokpal bill, with Ramdev, who fasted earlier this month against mounting corruption in the country, reiterating his charges against the government for not doing much against back money stashed abroad.

Profusely thanking his supporters at a press conference, Ramdev, blazing with anger, stressed that the entire world saw the injustice done to women and children at the crackdown and charged that police did not come to arrest him June 4, but to kill him.

He said he had come to Delhi on the eve of the 36th anniversary of the imposition of emergency and asserted that the situation “was very much similar to the emergency”.

“At Ramlila Maidan, the police did not come to arrest me, they wanted to kill me. I won’t give any evidence right now, because the case is pending with the Supreme Court,” said Ramdev.

He added that police attacked his supporters when they tried to extinguish the fire which started on the stage. “The attempt to set the stage on fire was again an attempt to kill me. They attacked my supporters who were trying to extinguish the fire.”

Ramdev also lashed out at the way the government reacted to his protest, saying that if they suspected that he was doing something illegal, then why did four ministers go to the airport to meet him when he arrived and why did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee write letters to him.

“Government doesn’t want to see Ramdev alive. If it’s a mistake, then we’ll commit such mistakes many times,” he thundered.

With the government trying to expose him over his thriving yoga business, Ramdev asserted that he was innocent.

“If the government finds any black money with me, they can declare it national property,” he said.

He dared the government to come clean on the issue of black money.

“If its not their money, then I ask, why are they afraid of declaring it as national property. I have uploaded all the details of our account in the website. Government should do the same,” he said.

After reaching Delhi, Ramdev rushed to GB Pant Hospital where the 51-yar-old Rajbala was being treated and invoked her condition as the government’s tactic of repression against those protesting corruption and black money.

Rajbala suffered spinal injuries in the June 4 police crackdown.

“Bhrastachaar and atyachar” (corruption and cruelty) was the new rallying cry of Ramdev, who said that his “fight was not illegal” and asserted that and “nobody can silence” him.

“Behen Rajbala is in very critical condition. Only a miracle can save her once the ventilator is removed,” he said. If she lives, she won’t be able to walk again,” he said.

“This government is not only corrupt but also cruel. If I had not asked the people to stay calm, there would have been a pool of dead bodies,” he added.

Ramdev also alleged that there were attempts at rape during the midnight crackdown. “There was attempt to rape the women and molestation… human rights were violated.

“We will give the proof related to this when the time comes,” he said.

Rejecting the charges of being the face of communal forces – an allegation made by some Congress leaders – he said it was a smear campaign.

“I am not the face of any party or organisation, I am not communal, I am only the face of billions of Indians,” he said.

He was asked to leave Delhi and banned from entering the city for 15 days. Ramdev continued his fast in Haridwar and Dehradun till June 12.

Delhi Police has in an FIR on the Ramlila Maidan incident, cited “provocative” speeches made by religious and political leaders, including Baba Ramdev and Sadhvi Ritambara, as the main reason for canceling permission for the yoga guru’s protest at Ramlila Maidan.

Shri Tarun Vijay, created a history by becoming first MP and columnist from India to visit Preah Vihear Temple, under threat to be destroyed by heavy shelling by Thai army. He worshipped at this ancient Shiva temple built between 9th and 12th century. Thai and Cambodian armies have taken war like position on both sides of this temple, built on a hill, bordering both countries. Both countries claim the temple.

Shri Tarun Vijay said it was his dream to visit this world heritage site and do his bit to create public opinion for the safety and preservation of this thousand year old temple which is a pride for this world. He was greeted by the Governor of Preah Vihear H.E. Oum Mara and senior officials of APSARA Authority of Cambodia, the highest govt body to take care of Ang Kor Wat including its Director General, who briefed Shri Tarun Vijay about the real situation and also the decision of ICJ. Prof S. Sahai, a senior scholar and world renowned researcher who has done extensive work on Preah Vihear temple accompanied Shri. Tarun Vijay and gave him all the background material on the temple.

Shri Tarun Vijay took pictures of the Temple including the ones showing damage to the ancient world heritage site by Thai shelling. He lamented that such a world heritgae should become a controversial issue and said that this site needs world attention and a collective will of all the civil citizens of this planet to preserve and safeguard world’s most valuable heritage. He assured that this issue will be taken up with Thai authorities also and he will inform Indian parliament about his visit and his experiences in Cambodia. He said- maintain peace, preserve Preah Vihear, for regional stability and progress.

Shri Tarun Vijay was invited to Phnom Penh to attend the meeting of distinguished diplomats and guests which was addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sok An on the issue of preservation and safeguarding Preah Vihear world heritage. He met and discussed the matter with H.E. Sok An and assured all help to have the Temple area declared as a peace zone. Deputy Prime Minister invited him for a special breakfast meeting at his residence also.

Shri Tarun Vijay said there should be a global consensus to assure that Preah Vihear temple is guaranteed safe passage for the tourists and pilgrims and not a single bullet is fired on it, which is a crime against humanity. He said he will do his best to publicize the Temple in India and felt confident that thousand of Indian Hindus and Buddhists would like to visit the Temple.

There were traditional Hindu rituals like auspicious conch blowing, lighting of the wick lamp and Vedic recitations as Durga Mandir (Temple of Goddess Durga) in Virginia hosted a Hinduism Summit on Sunday.

Forum for Hindu Awakening (FHA) and Durga Mandir of Virginia organized the summit to bring “to attention the issues faced by Hindus in America and provided unique, practical solutions to the Hindu community,” according to a statement issued by the organizers.

Bhavna Shinde Hurley, Hinduism Education Coordinator of Durga Mandir and Spokesperson of FHA, drew attention to various issues facing Hindus that are not commonly known, such as Hindu youth increasingly converting out of Hinduism, and trivialization of Hindu Deities in American entertainment, art and advertising industries.

Bhavna noted that the red dot (vermillion mark) on the forehead increases concentration while the Agnihotra sacrificial fire can neutralize nuclear radiation.

Maya Jairam, a native of Fort Collins, Colorado, opened the presentations with a firsthand account of growing up in America and embracing Hindu spirituality while S. Kalyanaraman, a Hindu activist who had come from Chennai, India, brought to light the inaccurate and negative depiction of Hinduism in school textbooks and higher academia.

Calling for protests against such inaccuracies, Kalyanaraman proposed erecting a museum as a reminder of the contributions of the Hindu community in America, to gain a voice for Hindus in America.

It’s another massive blow for the DMK with the Supreme Court rejecting Kanimozhi’s bail application. But, the real trouble may only be beginning. Top Sources in the CBI have told TIMES NOW that the money trail to the Rs 200 Cr ‘bribe’ to Kalaignar TV has extended beyond Cineyug and that another top corporate may be involved in repayment of the so-called loan – a development that spells more trouble for the DMK.